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Corporate Counsel Connect collection

February 2014 Edition

In this issue

Featured insight


Susan Hackett"It's the client, stupid" – focusing behavioral change on what clients need, rather than on what lawyers want to sell
Susan Hackett gave a highly acclaimed talk at this year's ReInvent Law conference. This article is a companion to that talk, digging into the topic of clients and the in-house behavioral changes necessary to re-engineer the legal function, inside and out. In the article, Susan asks: Why don't in-house clients demand value-driven, efficient, and results-oriented legal services?
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Tanya AvilaThe three p's: People, politics and priorities
I've recently started a new job and I'm reminded once again that the key to success for an in-house lawyer is often not in how well they can evaluate the legal issues. True success lies in the the three P's: People, Politics and Priorities. Figuring out how to navigate the three P's while maintaining our integrity and professional responsibilities can be challenging.
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Best practices


Man using ipadYour organization's responsibilities for managing apps and other online content
Organizations of all sizes now routinely make software applications ("apps"), social media, and other digital media content available for use by their employees and customers. It is important to recognize that, in many contexts, your organization will be held responsible for breaches of information privacy and other negative effects that result from customer use of apps.
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The new black: Legal department operations managers
One of the emerging trends of the past decade is the rise of the legal department operations manager, who reports directly to general counsel, and oversees the operational and managerial aspects of the law department, according to the Association of Corporate Counsel. In doing so, a general counsel has more time to devote to leadership, counseling and strategy. But what exactly do these operation managers do?
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In-house perspectives


Keith NelsenBest man: Keith Nelsen uses his leadership skills to help renew best buy
Keith Nelsen has become accustomed to two things in life: leading teams and taking hits. Nelsen, the general counsel for Best Buy, has been doing both of these since quarterbacking youth football teams in Green Bay. The hits these days may be less physical in nature, but they're just as brutal. "You might think that being a consumer electronics retailer is a relatively simple business, but it's not," Nelsen says.
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Legal insights


Jeremy ByellinRuling in Autism ADA case underscores importance of employer awareness of employee mental impairment
Today, there is an ever increasing amount of public awareness of mental and intellectual impairments and their accompanying effects on the everyday lives of those afflicted with them. Changes in the law affect the way that your organization should conduct business, at least with respect to those impacted by those legal changes.
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Know-how corner


Trademark infringement and irreparable harm; EEOC conciliation; recoverable e-discovery costs
Find out why the classic presumption that trademark infringement results in irreparable harm isn't always true anymore, and how the Seventh Circuit's decision in EEOC v. Mach Mining, LLC affects you. Plus, understand the importance of cooperation and maintaining detailed records for parties attempting to recover e-discovery costs.
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This month's top 10


2 menTop ten considerations for boards of directors in 2014
The past year saw an increased focus on corporate governance matters, with shareholders and regulators seeking changes in corporate policies, leadership and compensation practices. A closer watch is being kept on board actions to ensure that the oversight failures and corrupt behaviors that led to the financial crisis are not repeated. This Top Ten examines ten key issues that should be at the top of directors' minds as we enter 2014 and the upcoming proxy season.
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